Odds, Picks and Predictions
- The Houston Astros are 80-68 against the run line this season.
- The Tampa Bay Rays are 72-75 against the run line this year.
- The Astros are 42-33 against the run line when playing on the road.
- The Rays are 35-40 against the run line when playing at their home field.
- Houston is 15-5 against the run line as an underdog this year.
- Tampa Bay is 39-58 against the run line as a favorite this season.
The Tampa Bay Rays (82-65) will host the Houston Astros (97-51) on Tuesday night.
Houston won Game 1 of this series on Monday with a 4-0 victory over the Rays. With the win, the Rays clinched the AL West. The Astros are now 8-2 over the course of their last ten games.
Tampa Bay is holding on to a half-game lead for the second Wild Card spot in the American League. The Rays were struggling last week but are now 4-6 over their last ten games after winning three of their last five contests.
It will be interesting to see how Houston performs after clinching the division on Monday.
The first pitch is scheduled for 7:40 PM EST on Monday, September 19, 2022, at American Family Field in Milwaukee, WI. We should be in for a close and exciting MLB bout!
Houston Astros at Tampa Bay Rays Odds
| Teams | Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
| Houston Astros | +120 | O/6.5 | +1.5 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | -130 | U/6.5 | -1.5 |
The Rays are the favorites on Tuesday. But it isn’t a product of their home-field advantage. Tampa Bay is the favorite because potential AL Cy Young winner Shane McClanahan is on the mound for the Rays.
McClanahan is looking to lead the Rays to a huge win on Tuesday at home against this talented Astros ball club.
Top Sportsbooks Odds
- BetOnline: Tampa Bay Rays -1.5
- Bovada: Tampa Bay Rays -1.5
- MyBookie: Tampa Bay Rays -1.5
- BetUS: Tampa Bay Rays -1.5
- BetNow: Tampa Bay Rays -1.5
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Houston Astros at Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview
Houston Astros Preview
The Houston Astros clinched the AL West for the fifth time in six years. They continue to win games despite flying under the radar in 2022.
The Astros’ all-around balance is what makes them a lethal team. They have had unsung heroes in the pitching staff while the offense has remained consistent. The re-emergence of Justin Verlander following his injury-plagued 2021 season has been important as well.
But the contributions of Framber Valdez can’t be overlooked either. Valdez leads Houston with 176 strikeouts in 185.2 innings pitched. The left-hander has been a force on the mound even though he doesn’t receive much interest.
Offensively, Yordan Alvarez would be square in the MVP race in almost any other season. He’s not being mentioned in the conversation this year because of Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani’s historic seasons, but Alvarez is having a great campaign.
He’s hitting over .300 with 37 and a .630 slugging percentage.
The Astros’ offense as a whole is 12th in batting average, sixth in OBP, fifth in slugging percentage, eighth in runs scored, and fourth in home runs. Pitching-wise, they are second in ERA and second in WHIP.
Christian Javier (9-9, 2.87) is the Astros’ scheduled starter. He’s another Houston pitcher who’s flown under the radar and deserves more respect.
Tampa Bay Rays Preview
The Rays are beginning to play well after a sloppy past week. Tampa Bay should be able to wrap up a Wild Card spot, but nothing is set in stone as of yet.
Tampa Bay enters this game as a favorite. But they have struggled as a favorite against the run line so far this year. They have not been a bettor’s friend overall in 2022.
Nevertheless, their motivation to win, mixed with Houston already clinching the AL West, may place them in a good position for Tuesday.
On the season, the Rays are 14th in batting average, 20th in OBP, 20th in slugging percentage, 18th in runs scored and 24th in home runs. On the pitching side of the equation, they are third in team ERA, fourth in WHIP, 13th in home runs allowed, and fifth in batting average against.
Tampa Bay’s pitching success has been spearheaded by Shane McClanahan. McClanahan (12-5, 2.13) will get the start on Tuesday against the Astros. He should be able to perform well even with Houston’s impressive lineup.
Injury Report
For the Rays, utility man Brandon Lowe is expected to return this season. He’s currently on the IL but expects to be back in time to help Tampa Bay in the playoffs.
Other than the Rays’ already known long-term injuries, Lowe is the only injured player with recent updates.
For the Astros, only Jason Castro, Michael Brantley, and Josh James are on the IL. Michael Brantley is going to miss the rest of the season, while Castro’s and James’ timetables are unclear.
But for the most part, both the Astros and Rays are healthy heading into the final stretch of the year.
Houston Astros at Tampa Bay Rays Picks and Predictions
Which of these teams should you place your money on? Can the Astros upset the odds, or will the Rays take care of business?
The Astros may not play their best brand of baseball tomorrow. In fact, manager Dusty Baker very may rest some of their starters after clinching the division on Monday. As a result, the Rays are going to find themselves in a position to cover the odds.
The fact that Shane McClanahan is on the mound only enhances their chances of covering the run line. Their ace is more than capable of guiding them to a victory.
The Rays are the pick to click in this Tuesday night affair.
The Pick:
Go ahead and take the Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 with your MLB betting selection in this Tuesday night American League matchup
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